Bystanders thwart armed robbery at Colton Denny's

COLTON - Three men thwarted a gunman's attempt to rob the Denny's restaurant at 1190 S. Mt. Vernon on Sunday.

Around 5:22 a.m., Johnny Buzenes, 46, of Colton, walked into the restaurant allegedly armed with a gun and attempted to rob the cashier, according to police.

"Buzenes approached the cashier, pointed the .38 caliber revolver at her, and demanded money from the cash register," said police spokesman Ray Mendez. "He shoved the cashier to the side making attempts to empty the cash register."

The men saw Buzenes behind the counter and confronted him, Mendez said.

Buzenes ran from the men. They chased him, eventually catching him in the restaurant's parking lot, Mendez said.

The men restrained Buzenes until officers arrived and took him into custody, Mendez said.

"The gun wasn't loaded," Mendez said. "It was recovered at the scene."

The identities of the men haven't been released.

Buzenes was booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga and held in lieu of $100,000 bail.